1
AQA GCSE COMBINED SCIENCE PAPER 2
2026/2027 | COMBINED SCIENCE | 100
VERIFIED Q&A | DETAILED RATIONALES |
PASS GUARANTEED – A+ GRADED
SECTION 1: BIOLOGY – HOMEOSTASIS AND RESPONSE – Questions 1–20
Q1: Homeostasis – Nervous System
What is the function of a receptor in the nervous system?
A. To process information
B. To detect a stimulus
C. To carry electrical impulses
D. To produce a response
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Receptors detect stimuli (changes in the environment). Sensory neurones carry impulses
to the central nervous system, which processes the information and coordinates a response via
effectors. [100% CORRECT]
Q2: Homeostasis – Nervous System
What is the gap between two neurones called?
A. Synapse
B. Axon
C. Dendrite
D. Myelin
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: A synapse is the junction between two neurones. Neurotransmitters diffuse across the
synapse to carry the impulse from one neurone to the next. [100% CORRECT]
Q3: Homeostasis – Reflex Arc
What is the correct order of a reflex arc?
A. Receptor → sensory neurone → relay neurone → motor neurone → effector
B. Receptor → motor neurone → relay neurone → sensory neurone → effector
C. Effector → sensory neurone → relay neurone → motor neurone → receptor
D. Receptor → relay neurone → sensory neurone → motor neurone → effector
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The reflex arc sequence is: stimulus detected by receptor → sensory neurone → relay
neurone (in spinal cord) → motor neurone → effector (muscle or gland) produces response. [100%
CORRECT]
,2
Q4: Homeostasis – Brain
Which part of the brain controls body temperature, hunger, and thirst?
A. Cerebrum
B. Cerebellum
C. Medulla
D. Hypothalamus
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The hypothalamus regulates body temperature, hunger, thirst, and sleep. The cerebrum
is for conscious thought. The cerebellum coordinates movement. The medulla controls heart rate
and breathing. [100% CORRECT]
Q5: Homeostasis – Thermoregulation
What happens to the body when it becomes too cold?
A. Blood vessels dilate and sweating increases
B. Blood vessels constrict and shivering occurs
C. Blood vessels dilate and shivering occurs
D. Blood vessels constrict and sweating increases
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: When cold, blood vessels constrict (vasoconstriction) to reduce heat loss, and muscles
shiver to generate heat. Sweating decreases. [100% CORRECT]
Q6: Homeostasis – Blood Glucose
Which hormone raises blood glucose concentration?
A. Insulin
B. Glucagon
C. Adrenaline
D. Thyroxine
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Glucagon is released by the pancreas when blood glucose is too low. It causes the liver to
convert glycogen back into glucose, raising blood glucose levels. Insulin lowers blood glucose. [100%
CORRECT]
Q7: Homeostasis – Diabetes
How is Type 1 diabetes typically treated?
A. With diet and exercise only
B. With insulin injections
C. With glucagon injections
D. With antibiotics
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Type 1 diabetes is caused by the pancreas not producing enough insulin. It is treated with
, 3
insulin injections, often alongside dietary management. Type 2 may be managed with diet and
exercise initially. [100% CORRECT]
Q8: Homeostasis – Kidney
What is the role of ADH (antidiuretic hormone)?
A. To increase urine production
B. To decrease urine production
C. To increase blood glucose
D. To decrease blood glucose
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: ADH is released by the pituitary gland when blood is too concentrated. It causes the
kidneys to reabsorb more water, reducing urine volume and concentrating urine. [100% CORRECT]
Q9: Homeostasis – Kidney
What is dialysis?
A. A treatment for kidney failure that filters blood artificially
B. A treatment for diabetes
C. A type of scan
D. A hormone
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Dialysis is a machine-based treatment that filters waste products (like urea) and excess
water from the blood when the kidneys have failed. [100% CORRECT]
Q10: Homeostasis – Hormones
Which gland is known as the "master gland"?
A. Thyroid
B. Adrenal
C. Pituitary
D. Pancreas
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The pituitary gland is called the master gland because it secretes hormones that control
other endocrine glands. It is controlled by the hypothalamus. [100% CORRECT]
Q11: Homeostasis – Hormones
What is the role of thyroxine?
A. To regulate metabolism
B. To regulate blood glucose
C. To regulate water balance
D. To regulate stress response
AQA GCSE COMBINED SCIENCE PAPER 2
2026/2027 | COMBINED SCIENCE | 100
VERIFIED Q&A | DETAILED RATIONALES |
PASS GUARANTEED – A+ GRADED
SECTION 1: BIOLOGY – HOMEOSTASIS AND RESPONSE – Questions 1–20
Q1: Homeostasis – Nervous System
What is the function of a receptor in the nervous system?
A. To process information
B. To detect a stimulus
C. To carry electrical impulses
D. To produce a response
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Receptors detect stimuli (changes in the environment). Sensory neurones carry impulses
to the central nervous system, which processes the information and coordinates a response via
effectors. [100% CORRECT]
Q2: Homeostasis – Nervous System
What is the gap between two neurones called?
A. Synapse
B. Axon
C. Dendrite
D. Myelin
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: A synapse is the junction between two neurones. Neurotransmitters diffuse across the
synapse to carry the impulse from one neurone to the next. [100% CORRECT]
Q3: Homeostasis – Reflex Arc
What is the correct order of a reflex arc?
A. Receptor → sensory neurone → relay neurone → motor neurone → effector
B. Receptor → motor neurone → relay neurone → sensory neurone → effector
C. Effector → sensory neurone → relay neurone → motor neurone → receptor
D. Receptor → relay neurone → sensory neurone → motor neurone → effector
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The reflex arc sequence is: stimulus detected by receptor → sensory neurone → relay
neurone (in spinal cord) → motor neurone → effector (muscle or gland) produces response. [100%
CORRECT]
,2
Q4: Homeostasis – Brain
Which part of the brain controls body temperature, hunger, and thirst?
A. Cerebrum
B. Cerebellum
C. Medulla
D. Hypothalamus
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The hypothalamus regulates body temperature, hunger, thirst, and sleep. The cerebrum
is for conscious thought. The cerebellum coordinates movement. The medulla controls heart rate
and breathing. [100% CORRECT]
Q5: Homeostasis – Thermoregulation
What happens to the body when it becomes too cold?
A. Blood vessels dilate and sweating increases
B. Blood vessels constrict and shivering occurs
C. Blood vessels dilate and shivering occurs
D. Blood vessels constrict and sweating increases
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: When cold, blood vessels constrict (vasoconstriction) to reduce heat loss, and muscles
shiver to generate heat. Sweating decreases. [100% CORRECT]
Q6: Homeostasis – Blood Glucose
Which hormone raises blood glucose concentration?
A. Insulin
B. Glucagon
C. Adrenaline
D. Thyroxine
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Glucagon is released by the pancreas when blood glucose is too low. It causes the liver to
convert glycogen back into glucose, raising blood glucose levels. Insulin lowers blood glucose. [100%
CORRECT]
Q7: Homeostasis – Diabetes
How is Type 1 diabetes typically treated?
A. With diet and exercise only
B. With insulin injections
C. With glucagon injections
D. With antibiotics
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Type 1 diabetes is caused by the pancreas not producing enough insulin. It is treated with
, 3
insulin injections, often alongside dietary management. Type 2 may be managed with diet and
exercise initially. [100% CORRECT]
Q8: Homeostasis – Kidney
What is the role of ADH (antidiuretic hormone)?
A. To increase urine production
B. To decrease urine production
C. To increase blood glucose
D. To decrease blood glucose
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: ADH is released by the pituitary gland when blood is too concentrated. It causes the
kidneys to reabsorb more water, reducing urine volume and concentrating urine. [100% CORRECT]
Q9: Homeostasis – Kidney
What is dialysis?
A. A treatment for kidney failure that filters blood artificially
B. A treatment for diabetes
C. A type of scan
D. A hormone
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Dialysis is a machine-based treatment that filters waste products (like urea) and excess
water from the blood when the kidneys have failed. [100% CORRECT]
Q10: Homeostasis – Hormones
Which gland is known as the "master gland"?
A. Thyroid
B. Adrenal
C. Pituitary
D. Pancreas
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The pituitary gland is called the master gland because it secretes hormones that control
other endocrine glands. It is controlled by the hypothalamus. [100% CORRECT]
Q11: Homeostasis – Hormones
What is the role of thyroxine?
A. To regulate metabolism
B. To regulate blood glucose
C. To regulate water balance
D. To regulate stress response
